Spacer means for dual wheels



May 14, 1935- F. w. BURGER 2,001,407

SPACER MEANS FOR DUAL WHEELS Filed Dec. 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l k/ /20 E\\\\ r y /l//I/ll/lllll/III i f6 ff j@ ff. lll

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SPACER MEANS FOR DUAL WHEELS Filed Dec. 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 cically, the present invention contemplates an Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PAT 11 Claims. (C1. 3701-12)- \The present invention relates generally to wheels forV automotive vehicles and the like, particularly dual rimmed wheels upon which two pneumatic tires are adapted to be mounted. Speimproved spacer means to be used on dual wheels so as to maintain the two pneumatic tires in the proper laterally spaced relation with respect to the central plane of the wheel.

More particularly, the present'invention is in the nature of an improvement upon the spacing means disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,901,629, issued March 14, 1933, in which the spacing means disclosed is in the form of a spacing ringhaving central resilient portions to permit of a limited amount of lateral movement of the rim contacting portions in an axial direction so that when the rim clamping means was tightened the vspacing means was brought to the proper position relative to the spider or wheel body on which the rims were mounted. Specifically, the particular type of spider or wheel body upon which the spacing means was adapted to be mounted is that disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,829,889, dated November 3, 1931, in which the wheel body is provided with shoulders or abutments on the ends of the spokes. On each side of these shoulders is the spacing means mentioned above and the yielding of the resilient proportions thereof permitted the rim contacting portions of the spacing means to move into abutting engagement with the shoulders, thereby positively and accurately aligning the rims when the clamping means was tightened to force the rims against the spacing means and the spacing means against the shoulders on the wheel spider.

The spacing means of the present invention is likewise adapted to be used on a spider or wheel body of this type.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is a provision of spacing means which, instead of being in the form of a continuous ring, is in the form of the plurality of segments or arcuatev sections, one being provided for each spoke end in the case of felloe-less wheels. Each of the segmental spacers or spacing blocks is provided with marginal rim contacting portions, and resilient central portions to provide for the relative movement of the rim contacting portions to allow the tangs or lips formed on the laterally inner portions of the latter to engage the abutment shoulders on the associated spoke end. While I have referred to felloe-less wheels, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to this particular type of wheel.

Y Another object of the Apresent invention is the provision of Vmeans in theform of lugs or projections carriedby -thev rim contacting marginal portions of the spacer blocks for the purpose of initially aligning the rims.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent'to those skilled inthe art after a consideration of the following detailed description of the construction in which the principles of the present invention are'preferably embodied. Y t

The preferred construction is illustrated in th vaccompanying drawings; in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spoke end with thev spacer blockY disposed inoperative position thereon, certain partsbeing shown in section to better illustrate the relations involved;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken through the construction shown in Figure l;

t Figure 3 is a top plan View of one of the spacer t blocks;

Figure 4 isfaside view of the spacer block shown in Figure 3;'` and L Figure 5V is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding to a section taken along Vthe line-E of Figure 3 and showing the function and operation of the preliminary aligning lug means formed in the mid portion of each of the rim contacting marginal fianges of the spacer block.'

Referring now to the drawings, thereference f numeral I indicates the radially outer Aportion y of a spoke of a felloe-less wheel. The spoke end is formed with an inboard socket 2 on each side I of which is a seat or ledge 3 adapted to receive a clamping lug Il of wedge formation, the clamping lug being provided with an apertured ear 5 arranged to be received within the socket 2 and embracing the head end 6 of a clamping bolt 1 the spoke end to the which faces radially inwardly of the rim and which is of an angularity corresponding to the angularity of the wedge-shaped clamping lugs 4, as best shown in Figure 2.

The ledges or seats 3 of the wheel are disposed in a cylindrical surface, the `diameter of which is slightly less than the smallest diameter of the rims I I and I2. This allows the inboard rim to be slipped over the ends `of the spoke to its proper position on the inboard side thereof.

The radially outer end portion of the spoke I is provided with central abutment means in the form of integral shouldered projections 25 which provide a circumferential series of centrally disposed abutments which are accurately disposed and dimensioned with respect tothe central plane of the Wheel body. The shoulders 2S pro.- vided by the projections 25 form a part of the means for accurately aligning' the rims on the wheel body. In accordance with. the principles of the present invention there is provided for each spoke end a form of spacing means which cooperates with the shouldersr26. and the adiacent marginal portions III` of the rims whereby the latter are accurately disposed onsthe Wheel body in the proper position.

The spacer block of thepresent invention comprises a segmental or arcuate section of 'flat metal stock having marginal flanges l3i joined to the main body of the spacer block by sections 32 which are arcuate in cross section and whichv arev adapted to have line Acontact Awith the adjacent or inner edges VI4 of the rims. -The arcu-I ate portions 32 merge into; substantially fiat sec,- tions 3a which are adaptedto-be disposed on opposite sides of the central spoke abutments.

These oppositely disposed sections terminate in# wardly in tangs or lips 'Evwhich contact directly` with the shoulders 26 onthe spoke end; "The ends of the sections 34 are joined by resilient portions 48 which are archedradially inwardly of the wheel and which areV resilient to provide for limited relative movement between the lat`r eral lsections 34 carrying the marginalefianges 3l and the tangs or lips 35. Ther outboard scc--Y tion 3a is slit, as at 43; and asection 'M turned radially inwardly and apertured to provide .as tongueto receive the bolt .'I for the purpose ofA preventing the spacer block fromv slipping `out and becoming lost'.` Also,` as best shown in Fig. ure l, the end portions I? of the spacer contact with portions of the spoke Vand keep Vthe spacer in proper position'on the wheel. f The construction of the clamping lugs li are preferably that disclosed inmy prior patent men# tioned above. The inboard clamping lugs 4 have been referred to above. The outboard clamping lug is indicated by the reference numeral 50 in Figure 2 'and includes an apertured ear'portion 5I movable in an outboard socket'52 formed in the spoke end. The outboard end of the clamping bolt l is threaded, as at 54, to receive a clamping nut 55 Whichis adapted' to bear against the lug 50. Tightening the nut 55 draws the lugs 4 and 59 against the rims IIand I2, respectively, the adjacent margins I4 thereof engaging the flanges 3l on the spacer'block. Continued tightening of the nut 55 acts through the rims. II and I2 to shift the lateral sections'S of the spacer block inwardly toward and into ngagementwith the shoulders 26 on thespoke end. Each of the clamping lugs land 5B are'provided with inwardly disposed shoulders or tangs 6I! and BI which, as disclosed in my prior patent, provide for initially centering the rims in approximately the proper position.- To cooperate with the tang'sections Si! and 6I on the clamping lugs, the spacer block is; provided with laterally outwardly directed lug means vE55 to initially engage with the edge or gutter portion VI4 of each rim to bring the same to approximatelyits posito be limited to the specific means shown and described, but, that in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects ofmy invention.

, What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:A

, l. In a dual rimmed wheel having spokes and rim clamping nieansrat the radially outer ends thereof, a plurality of spacerblocks adapted to beV disposed between the rims of the wheel and in: contact with said rims, each spacer block being disposed.v adjacent the outer end of` the associated spoke and on oppositev sides of a portionfthereof, the reaction of said clamping means acting'to force opposite portions of said spacer. block against opposite side portions of said spoke end, each spacer block including portions engageable with the ends of the associated spoke to keep the block in proper vposition thereon.

2. In` adual rimmed-wheel havingspokes and rim'clamping vmeans at therradially outer ends thereof, ,aV spacer memberadapted to be mount-V ed on aspoke end and between the rims on the wheeljsaid'member having an open central .por-V tion arranged to embrace at least a portion of theL spoke end and resilient portions providing for movement of opposite v`sections of said member' relative to each other and intoaabuttingr engagement withportions-of the spokelend under the action of said 'clamping means, and means carriedby the ends of the spacer memberto prevent thelatteii from turning relative to the axis of thespoke end on which the member is mounted. 3. In la'dual rimmed wheel having spokes and rim clamping meansl at theradially outer ends of the spokes for clamping therims on the wheel, a spacer member adapted to be mounted on each spoke end and between said rims, each spacer member having a radially outwardly disposed marginal' fiange at the side edges thereof, an open central portion arranged to embrace at least a portion of the' spoke end, lips projecting inwardly ofthe open central portion from opposite sides thereof and adapted to engage opposite portions of the spoke end, arched resilient sections aty the ends of said open central portion anddispos'ed on opposite sides of the spoke in a circumferential direction, the resiliency thereof permitting said lips to approach each other and `to abut against said opposite portions of the spoke end when the' rims are clamped against said marginal flanges by said clamping means, and an attachment means carried by the spacer memberand engageable with at least a portion of said clamping means for retaining said member in position on the spoke end.V Y

s 4. In a dual rimmed wheel having spokes and means at the radially outer ends of the spokes for clamping the rims lon the wheel, a spacer member adapted to be mounted on each spoke end and between said rims, each spacer member having a radially outwardly `disposed marginal flangeat theside' edges thereof, an open central portion'arranged to embrace at least a portion of the spoke endflips projecting inwardly of the open central portion from opposite sides thereof and adapted to engage opposite portions of the spoke end, radially inwardly arched resilient sections at the ends of said open central portion, the arched sections being spaced apart circumferentially of the wheel so as to be disposed on opposite sides of the spoke end in a circumferential direction, the resiliency thereof permitting said lips to approach each other and to abut against said opposite portions of the spoke end when the rims are clamped against said marginal flanges by said clamping means, and an integral attaching apertured ear extending radially inwardly from one of said lips and adapted to embrace said bolt means to secure the spacing member in position on the spoke end.

5. In a dual rimmed wheel having spokes and rim clamping means at the radially outer ends thereof, a plurality of spacer blocks adapted to be disposed between the rims of the wheel and in contact with said rims, each spacer block being disposed adjacent the outer end of the associated spoke and on opposite sides of a portion thereof, the reaction of said clamping means acting to force opposite portions of said spacer block against opposite side portions of said spoke end, and means on each block for initially centering the rims as said clamping means are tightened.

6. A spacer block adapted to be disposed between the rims of a felloe-less dual rimmed wheel, said spacer block comprising a segmental section having upturned marginal flanges adapted to contact with the adjacent portions of the rims and downturned end portions spaced in a circumferential direction and adapted to engage opposite outer sides of a spoke end of the wheel, said downturned end portions being resilient to accommodate relative movement between said rims while maintaining the spacer block in proper position on the associated spoke end during said relative movement.

7. A spacer block adapted to be disposed between the rims of a ielloe-less dual rimmed wheel, said spacer block comprising an arcuate segmental section having upturned marginal flanges having portions arcuate in cross section and adapted to have substantially lin-e contact with the adjacent edges of the rims, and means on each block for initially centering the rims as said clamping means are tightened, said means comprising a lug projecting laterally outwardly from the mid portion of each of said marginal flanges.

8. Spacer means adapted to be disposed between the rims of a felloe-less dual rimmed wheel andcomprising a pair of relatively movable sections each having at its laterally outer edge an upturned marginal flange adapted to contact with the adjacent portion of the associated rim, and means near the end portions of said sections and cooperating with the spoke end for holding the spacer means in approximately proper position.

9. In a dual rimmed wheel having spokes and rim clamping means at the radially outer ends of the spokes for clamping the rims on the wheel, a spacer member adapted to be mounted on each spoke end and between said rims, each spacer member having marginal sections with a radially outwardly disposed marginal flange at the side edges thereof, an open central portion arranged to embrace at least a portion of the spoke end, said marginal sections being adapted to engage opposite portions of the spoke end, and arched resilient sections at the ends of said open central portion and disposed on opposite sides of the spoke in a circumferential direction, the resiliency thereof permitting said marginal sections to approach each other and to abut against said opposite portions of the spoke end when the rims are clamped against said marginal flanges by said clamping means.

10.` In a dual rimmed wheel having spokes and rim clamping means at the radially outer ends of the spokes for clamping the rims on the wheel, a spacer member adapted to be mounted on each spoke end and between said rims, each spacer member having marginal sections with a radially outwardly disposed marginal ange at the side edges thereof, an open central portion arranged to embrace at least a portion of the spoke end, said marginal sections being adapted to engage opposite portions of the spoke end, and connecting means joining said marginal sections, said connecting means being disposed on opposite sides of the spoke in a circumferential direction and in contact therewith, and said connecting means being arranged to permit said marginal sections to approach each other and to abut against said opposite portions of the spoke end when the rims are clamped against said marginal flanges by said clamping means.

1l. A spacer block adapted to be disposed be-Y FREDERICK W. BURGER. 

